Remember this precious little building? The previous owners used it to milk their Nubian goats. As any good 21st-Century designer would do, I “repurposed” it to fit our needs. It currently houses “the girls.”

Jim and I have worked hard to “upcycle and repurpose” as many materials on the property as we can. The posts and beams are the ones surrounding the tennis court in the picture above. Bud carefully removed the old and wonderfully wormy cypress boards, setting them aside until I could get back from NOLA so we could reinstall them on the partially new plywood structure {in just the right place no less}. Redoing this little building took much longer than anticipated since Jim’s “security specs” were up to Ft. Knox standards!! I will admit we have many creatures that roam around during the day…no telling what comes out at night! Anyway, “the girls” are safe.

Bud installed doors we removed from the house and I painted them Liquid Jade by Valspar in Semi-gloss.

The girls are growing up and they are very happy in their new home. But something was missing…

meet “Angel”

Sweet Susanne

Cleo {short for Cleopatra}

The Coop needed some landscaping. Saturday, I visited “A place in the Son” and purchased some plants, placed them and

and planted them in 90 degree heat! Whew, now that turned out to be a project!!

But “the girls” seem to really like it.

As crazy and boring as it sounds, Jim and I quite enjoy watching “the girls” peck around and take dirt baths {Rudy patrolled}.

I realize I said I would probably never work with brick again…well, time does heal. I have gathered more brick from the yard and will try my hand at making a little brick entrance/walk way to the doors. Surely setting them in dirt is easier than mortar!

This week Bud will take down this structure that houses the water pump. My plan “repurposes” the rest of the doors that we removed in the house to form the walls for the new pump house, which will also serve to store “the girl’s hen-stuff.” A neighbor kindly offered us 2 old windows from his garage. Bud said he was up for the challenge to make “dutch doors”…so we shall see.

The garden is growing…cucumbers in 1st place so far.

The brick in the Dining Room got its first coat of paint. {By the way…I tried flat paint but it’s too chalky looking. Next coat will be a satin finish to give it a little shine.}

The walls are complete upstairs. The doors get painted a light taupe color this week…Ice Formations #973 by Ben Moore.

One bath tiled and grouted. Instead of removing the little metal window, a plantation shutter will serve two purposes…privacy and disguise.

Meanwhile…we have installed a heavy plastic on the front porch to house all our stuff. I’ll be happy as a little chick when I can move into my freshly painted {and landscaped} house.

If you plan to start any Fall projects in preparation of the holidays, I encourage you to seriously consider using recycled and upcycled materials, repurposing them to meet your personal needs.

After all, God is in the business of continually repurposing and upcycling our lives too isn’t he…

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there

but water the earth making it bring forth and sprout,

giving seed for the sower and bread to the eater,

so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;

it shall not return to me empty,

but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,

and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

Isaiah 55:10-11

Count on this wonderful promise of God this week…believe he can take anything in your life and repurpose it for your good and His glory…believe him!

One Response to “the “Coop” at The Farm”

“The girlds” are cetainly living in style now. Love the color you chose for the doors and “shutters”. Can’t wait to see what the repurposed pump house looks like. I have thorouhly enjoyed watching your progress! I thank God every day for creative people.